Wireless communications company AT&T is borrowing from Apple’s retail playbook with a glossy storefront at Westfield UTC, one of San Diego’s premier malls.

The 3,500 square-foot store, which opened Friday, is meant to offer an inviting browsing or lounging experience for mall shoppers who want to learn more about the company’s content and entertainment offerings, particularly DirecTV and DirecTV Now.

It’s located a few doors down from the all-new Nordstrom venue in a freshly constructed space that’s part of the mall’s $600 million expansion. AT&T outfitted the store with around $323,000 in tenant improvements, according to building permits filed with the city.

The venue is designed less around phone sales and more around interacting with gadgets of all kinds and learning about services, the company said. Smartphones sit at tables at the center of the store, an expanded lineup of accessories — including virtual reality headsets, smartwatches and speakers — decorate the walls and two, 98-inch television sets beckon shoppers to venture to the back of the store.

The new San Diego location is one of at least five new stores slated to open in the region. It’s a part of AT&T’s larger plan to grow its retail presence with more than 1,000 new locations of varying size and format.

In addition to new full-format stores, the company said in September that it will put smaller pop-up stores in places such as apartment buildings and introduce at least 150 on-the-go, mobile stores.

AT&T’s retail expansion, and the UTC store in particular, looks like the physical manifestation of the firm’s premium content push. The company has invested heavily in its fiber infrastructure and TV offerings to position itself as the go-to destination for delivering speed and entertainment to any of its customers’ screens.

Currently, AT&T pulls in the most money from its wireless products and services division; it reported $17.9 billion in revenue in the most recent quarter. The entertainment division, which includes residential Internet and TV services, accounted for $11.6 billion in revenue.

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Hundreds of San Diego hotel workers marched in downtown San Diego to pressure Marriott hotels to improve pay and working conditions for low wage workers.

Hundreds of San Diego hotel workers marched in downtown San Diego to pressure Marriott hotels to improve pay and working conditions for low wage workers.

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Hundreds of San Diego hotel workers marched in downtown San Diego to pressure Marriott hotels to improve pay and working conditions for low wage workers.

Hundreds of San Diego hotel workers marched in downtown San Diego to pressure Marriott hotels to improve pay and working conditions for low wage workers.

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The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a federal law that bars gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states, giving states the go-ahead to legalize betting on sports.

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Viasat is a global communications company working to connect the unconnected throughout the world. As part of our mission, we're bringing low-cost, high-speed satellite internet to rural towns throughout Mexico. We believe that everyone, everywhere deserves the opportunity to add their voice to the global conversation. (Courtesy of Viasat)

Viasat is a global communications company working to connect the unconnected throughout the world. As part of our mission, we're bringing low-cost, high-speed satellite internet to rural towns throughout Mexico. We believe that everyone, everywhere deserves the opportunity to add their voice to the global conversation. (Courtesy of Viasat)

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San Diego has agreed to sell 16 lots in Nestor for $1 each, in the pursuit of affordable housing. The nonprofit San Diego Community Land Trust plans to build three and four-bedroom homes there for people with moderate incomes. That means a family of five with an income of up to $102,750.

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Toys R Us still sells about 20% of the toys bought in the U.S., according to an analyst at Jefferies LLC.

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